Welcome to the
Acadian Memorial
In honor of the 3,000 Acadian men, women and children who found refuge in Louisiana after British forces exiled them from Acadie.
Featured Events
Wooden Boat Congrès
The Wooden Boat Congres founders have for the last years recognized the historical value of the Pirogue by featuring it at its annual and in the Re-Enactment of the Arrival of the Acadians. On May 14, 2012, the Legislature of the State of Louisiana passed the House Concurrent Resolution 746 declaring The Pirogue as The Official Boat Of Louisiana.
Schedule for Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival and Wooden Boat Congrès
Friday, May 16, 2025 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Reception at the Acadian Memorial
Honoring Mouton and Roy Families
Saturday May 17th 9:00am Putt Putt Boat arrival until 9:45am
Wooden Boat Display (all day – at the bayou)
9:45 am Flag Raising and Opening of Festival with Mayor Jason Willis
10:00 am Food, Drink & Craft Booths open for service (all day)
Jambalaya, boudin, cracklins and Fried catfish
Lafayette Genealogy Society Family History Help Booth (all day)
Sweets Booth (all day)
10:00am – 10:30am Théâtre Cadien – historical vignettes en français (Acadian Memorial) 10:00-10:30
Veille Maniere Band – 10:00am 3:00pm, pausing for reenactment
Genealogy Presentations
Children’s Books & Storytime with the St. Martinville Library (next to Gazebo)
11:00 am Acadian Brown Cotton by Elaine Larcade Bourque in City Hall Lobby
11:00am – 11:30am “Footsteps in Time”11
presentation by Gayle Breaux Smith (City Hall Council Chambers)
11:00am – 12:00pm French Table hosted by Jolene Adams
(Acadian Museum in front of the quilt)
12:30pm Re-enactment of the Arrival of Acadians in Louisiana
Honoring the Roy & Mouton Families (Bayou/Gazebo – boats leave at 12 pm
1:30pm Théâtre Cadien – historical vignettes en français (Acadian Memorial)
3:00pm Festival close
Visit the Museum
The Mural
“The Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana” by Robert Dafford, measures 12 x 30 feet and is part of an interactive online feature you don’t want to miss.
The Wall of Names
Our Wall of Names lists approximately 3000 Acadian refugees from early Louisiana records. Names are engraved on twelve bronze plaques and framed in granite.
The Eternal Flame
Our Eternal Flame symbolizes the ability of a culture to rekindle itself despite great hardship. The flame rises from the center of a polished granite oval in the Acadian Memorial garden.
The Deportation Cross
Our replica of the Grand-Pré Deportation Cross marks the site of embarkation of over 2,000 Acadian farmers and tradesmen and their families in 1755.
Contribute
to Our Foundation
The Acadian Memorial is made possible, in
part, by the contributions of patrons like you.
Support the Museum
Donate
Contributing to our museum helps to educate people for years to come.
Shop
Purchase flags, DVDs, books, pins and much more on site or in our online store
Genealogy
The Acadian Memorial Archive has made scholarly research by Dr. Carl Brasseaux.